Thursday, February 11, 2010 11:26 am

The East Fork of the Stones River begins in Cannon County and flows west and north, emptying into Percy Priest Reservoir near Nashville. The East Fork begins as a tiny spring coming forth from a stone outcropping slowly growing as it winds its way through downtown Woodbury and then onward through Rutherford and Wilson counties.

The Stones River Watershed Association (SRWA) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit all volunteer organization. The mission of SRWA is to protect, preserve, enhance and restore the natural resources within the Stones River Watershed.

The Stones River Relay on April 3 is a community event focused on getting people outside and onto the River. Beginning on Short Mountain – the highest point in Middle Tennessee – the Relay has three stages. The first leg is a run (mostly downhill). Stage 2 is a bike ride (again mostly downhill).

Stage 3 is a paddle: entrants will switch to canoes or kayaks at the Arts Center of Cannon County. At that location the River is deep and wide enough to accommodate a flotilla of paddlers who will work their way downstream ultimately exiting the River at the newly restored Readyville Mill.

Entrants are welcome to participate solo or as a team to complete 1 or all 3 legs of The Relay. This is a fun, family event. Children and adults are encouraged to register.

Check-in on Event Day will be 8-8:30 a.m. at the Arts Center. Boats will be inventoried there; participants and their bicycles will be shuttled to the Short Mountain School where bikes will be inventoried; runners will then be driven to the top of Short Mountain to the Relay starting point. The Run – first leg of the Relay – will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will be shared by the host sites and SRWA to be reinvested in water-focused environmental projects.

The Association warmly welcome your participation in the Relay and with future SRWA activities.

Please contact SRWA at relay-info@stonesriverrelay.com, or contact Neal Appelbaum at (615) 563-3276 if you have questions about registering for the event or if would like to volunteer to staff the Relay on April 3, 2010.

For additional information visit http://www.stonesriverrelay.com.